To be precise
QWhat jobs did you do before this one? I joined the SDHB as a typist clerk in the radiology department and later became a medical secretary in the Department of Medicine, before becoming a project manager in information and technology systems.
QWhy did you choose this job? My previous experience in various administration, IT and clinical project implementations has given me an understanding of the patient journey and where and how services can be better accessed and delivered.
QHow did you get into it and when? I have project managed the implementation of the patient management systems in southern and supported national implementations of the patient management systems — an important patient information software application — where I was exposed to the possibility of remote televised outpatient clinics. Seeing the opportunity, in 2017 I was seconded to the telehealth coordinator position from my previous project, implementing supporting the electronic referral system.
QWhat qualifications and training did you need? I gained more than 10 years’ experience through various IT project management experience along with more than 20 years in clinical administration roles within the DHB and took advantage of training opportunities from the SDHB.
QWhat personal skills do you need? Good communication, being both a selfstarter and team member at the same time, the ability to problem solve and an overall enthusiasm to influence change for better patient outcomes. Openness to exploring new technologies and new ways of supporting patient care is a must.
Any physical requirements?
Be able to drive and carry equipment.
What do you do on a daily basis? Coordinate the establishment and support of new services using telehealth conferencing for patient appointments and meetings to reduce the travel time for the patient and clinician, allowing delivery of services closer to home. Supporting patients in the use of the technology where required patients do not all need to visit a health facility for telehealth conferencing, this can be carried out in their own home, a GP practice or a residential care facility. A patient may be in a hospital within the SDHB region but has an appointment at another DHB and this can also take place via telehealth conferencing without the appointment being postponed until the patient is discharged.
QWhat is the most challenging aspect? Uptake by those who are not confident in the ways and use of new types of technology. Change management, working with staff to adopt new innovative ways of providing healthcare. But we are seeing near constant progress with many services adding telehealth as an option for patient appointments. Some examples of late include mental health consultations between Southland Hospital and Lakes Community Mental Health, and primary maternity consultations between Wanaka and Dunedin Hospital.
QWhat is the most interesting assignment you’ve had? Providing support to patients to access healthcare remotely. In particular, allowing older people in resthomes to attend an appointment without any travel is always gratifying; inpatients telehealth conferencing to specialists at other sites, both within the SDHB region and outside our district, is also very rewarding to see as it means patients are getting quality care, often more quickly and with less inconvenience.
QHow has the job changed since you started? We are developing the process of onboarding of health and clinical service. No two services are the same. Up until now we have taken the approach of working with the services keen to embrace the technology but we are looking at targeting new health services and geographical areas where there is the most need, establishing telehealth to support patients and to deliver healthcare closer to their home.
QWhat’s something people generally don’t know about the job? That it is about supporting quality patient care and better access to services. That we all work together in the southern health system to understand and improve clinical pathways that patients follow and that the technology matches the patient’s need — not the other way around.
QWhat are the highs of the job? Supporting SDHB staff to deliver care on time and closer to home and in some situations in the patient’s home or a residential care facility. It feels good to support those principles.
QWhere will you be 10 years from now? Retired but hopefully still supporting patients in the community in a voluntary role — maybe supporting patients in their homes to link into telehealth video conferencing, or voluntary teacher/lecturer at the University of the Third Age, breaking down the barriers so older people can access new technologies. If you were not doing this job, what would you be doing?
I’d be a nurse.
What should 10yearolds aspire to today?
Nurse, firewoman or a superhero (not necessarily in that order.)
Name one thing you would change about your job?
I wish there were more hours in the day or I could be in more than one place at the same time (though telehealth technology does help in that regard.)
Do you get weekends and public holidays off?
The position is Monday to Friday with no weekend or public holiday requirements.